Outlander Season 4, Episode 12 is one of the strongest episodes of the series
There are some excellent episodes of Outlander every season. Outlander Season 4, Episode 12 remains one of my all-time favorites, and I think it will remain like that all the way until the end.
While Claire and Jamie are in the opening moments, they don’t show up for the majority of the episode. This is all about Brianna, Roger, and Fergus; three characters that need the time to develop.
I know this isn’t a favorite for those who only want to see Claire and Jamie. For me, the story has grown past them, though. It’s about the growing family, and I’d be mighty annoyed if characters didn’t get the right development just for the same two characters we’ve already seen get plenty of development.
But it’s more than just the development of the characters. They have particular storylines in this episode that leads to important storylines moving forward.
Brianna shows her strength of character and confidence
Brianna visits Stephen Bonnet in the jail during Outlander Season 4, Episode 12. She’s sure that this is the last time she’ll see him, and she needs to let go of her anger. This is the man who raped her, and she’s sure he’s the father of her unborn baby. It’s the man who has haunted her dreams and made her doubt herself.
She shows off her confidence and her strength of character by visiting him. There’s also a moment of compassion for the man, although she probably doesn’t view it as compassion. She’s not doing this for him but for herself.
This isn’t about forgiveness but about making it clear he’ll be forgotten. It’s clearly something Bonnet worries about. He wants to make a mark in the world, and now he’s realized that while he may leave something behind, that child will never know him.
She didn’t need to tell him this, but she felt like she needed to for herself.
And nobody really needs to understand why. As a victim, she gets to face her attacker if she wants. Who can say what would make her feel better? Nobody but her.
Roger shows off his compassion and willingness to make sacrifices
Next up is Roger’s storyline. We see him connect with the priest while in the hut. He’s now a prisoner of the Mohawk, and he has no idea what is going to happen to him. So, he knows he needs to find a way to escape on Outlander Season 4, Episode 12.
He gets that chance, but he also knows the priest is going to face a painful death. While walking down the dirt road, Roger realizes that he has to go back. We see this level of compassion and a willingness to make a sacrifice.
It’s not the first time he’s done this. He didn’t go back through the stones earlier in the season because of Brianna. However, that sacrifice was for the woman he loved. This sacrifice is for a guy he barely knows, but he’s not a killer and he’s not going to let someone suffer if he can do something about it.
This moment is important for later points in the story. There are other times that he’s been on the side of compassion, although he goes through a lot of change during Season 5.
It’s actually Roger’s story that I love the most throughout Seasons 4 and 5, especially on this particular episode. The ending to Outlander Season 4, Episode 12 still gives me chills.
Fergus finds a place in the world after a difficult time
Finally, we get to Fergus’s storyline on Outlander Season 4, Episode 12. He had a difficult season, not really finding a place in Wilmington that would accept it. His experience didn’t matter. The lack of a hand meant that most people wouldn’t give him a job.
And we watched his mental health suffer. Marsali watched him become half the man that he used to be. She wasn’t bothered about supporting the family, but she couldn’t see Fergus continue to deteriorate. She needed to find a way to save him, and that meant turning to Murtagh for help.
Of course, it all led to Murtagh’s arrest. And so Fergus rallies Murtagh’s followers to break him out of jail. He’s the one that leads the men and works on a plan. He’s the one that puts his own life on the line to get Murtagh out of the jail cell.
He has found his place in the world, and there’s no turning back. He also shows how much he’s taken in from his life with Jamie. He’s not afraid to go against the law for something he believes is right and to protect family.
My only wish is that he gets more time to develop on the show. He’s one of the most underused characters in the series, and it’s time to see him step up more often.
What did you think of Outlander Season 4, Episode 12? What were your favorite moments from the episode? Let me know in the comments below.
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